Visas for Visiting, Working, Studying or Retiring in Ireland

An increasing number of individuals have been showing an interest in either obtaining an Irish Passport or retiring to Ireland.

If you are planning a long holiday to explore all that Ireland has to offer, or are wishing to study, working or retire in the beautiful Emerald Isle, there are some important issues pertaining to your passport and visas that you will need to consider.

If you are dependent of an EU national and you yourself are a non-EEA national, you may still require a visa.

If you are planning to reside in Ireland for longer than three months, you must register with the immigration service and fill out an application for a residence card.

If your application is successful, you will not require a re-entry visa should you decide to return to Ireland in the future.

90 Day Short Stay Visas

There are several different types of visa.

If you are planning to be in Ireland for less than three months, for a holiday, for business purposes or to study, you should be eligible for a ‘C’ (short stay) visa.

Under the terms and conditions of a ‘C’ visa, you will be allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of ninety days.

If you enter Ireland on this type of visa, you will be unable to apply to extend your stay.

Instead, you will have to leave the country and reapply should you need to stay longer.

The criteria for assessment is as follows:

that you will leave Ireland at the end of your visit;

that you, or relatives or friends in Ireland who are sponsoring your visit, have enough money to support and accommodate you, without you working or accessing public funds;

that you have proof of return or onward travel arrangements;

that you will not breach the Common Travel Area by seeking to enter the UK via Ireland without a valid UK visa;

your immigration history in relation to Ireland, the UK, the Schengen Zone and other countries; and

any other issue which the visa officer deems relevant.

Long Term Visas for Work, Retirement and Study

If you have plans to visit Ireland for a protracted period of time (over three months) because you are hoping to study, work or live there permanently (with already established resident family members), then you may be eligible for a single entry ‘D’ (long stay) visa. If you are meet the criteria for a ‘D’ visa and decide you want to extend your stay beyond the agreed period, you will need to register and apply for a residence permit.

If you have plans to study in Ireland for a period exceeding three months, you may also apply for a study visa. A visa of this type is dependent on your fulfilling certain criteria, so do check in advance. You are able to apply for a visa of this type from three months before the start date of the course.

Transit Visas

People from a handful of countries will also require what is known as a transit visa if they are travelling to another country via Ireland.

Countries that require an Irish Transit Visa:

Afghanistan

Iraq

Albania

Lebanon

Cuba

Moldova

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nigeria

Eritrea

Somalia

Ethiopia

Sri Lanka

Georgia

Ukraine

Ghana

Zimbabwe

Iran

Under the terms of a transit visa, you are not permitted to leave the airport or port.

Visa Waiver for UK Visa Holders

Under the visa waiver and reciprocal visa agreement, nationals coming from selected Asian (including India), Middle East, Eastern European countries who are in possession of a short-term visa for the UK will be allowed to visit Ireland without requiring a separate visa.

Under the new BIVS (British Irish Visa Scheme), visitors from China and India may travel freely within a designated Common Travel Area, (that is, Ireland and the UK, excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands), using either a UK or Irish short-stay BIVS stamped visa.

Single Versus Multiple Entry Visas

Remember that your visa (unless designated ‘multiple entry’) will allow you to enter Ireland once only. If you wish to leave and return, you will need a re-entry visa.

This also applies if you visit Northern Ireland during your stay.

Before you can be granted a re-entry visa, you will need to register with the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau).

Irish Visa Application Process

All visas should be applied for online. Leave plenty of time (at least eight weeks) before your intended date of travel.

You may be asked to include biometrics information during the course of your application.

You may also be banned from applying to come to Ireland for five years. It is sensible to wait until your visa is approved before you buy your tickets.

Processing times may vary depending on your country of origin. Generally speaking, though, you should expect to hear with two months of the date that you put in your application.

One piece of good news is that if you are of retirement age (sixty-five years plus), hold the required passport and visas and you are residing permanently in Ireland, you will be entitled to free public rail and bus transport.

Students may also qualify for subsidised travel, but those who are working in Ireland will have to pay full travel costs.

Event Details

The Drogheda Traditional Music Weekend which takes place during the last weekend in November, will this year celebrate its 22nd year. The festival features a programme of traditional music and

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Event Details

The Drogheda Traditional Music Weekend which takes place during the last weekend in November, will this year celebrate its 22nd year. The festival features a programme of traditional music and places a special focus on traditional singing. It takes place in a number of cultural and historic locations in Drogheda.

The Termonfeckin Set Dancers will lead a popular dance class as part of the Drogheda Traditional Music Weekend in The Morning Star on Thursday, with excellent tuition and live music performance from Seamus and Fidelma Bellew. Tickets will be available on the door at The Morning Star, Tullyallen with dancing starting at 9pm.

Friday will see as part of this year’s Drogheda Traditional Music Weekend, a special concert for primary schools featuring Zoë Conway, John McIntyre and Mick O’Brien. This concert will commence at 10.30am in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street.

Then in the evening at 8pm there will be a Headline Concert in honour of the late Caitlin Bean ui Cairbre. It will feature Mick O’Brien on Uilleann Pipes, Tom Morrow on Fiddle and Seamus Brett on Keyboard with the award winning Ward Sisters (Lisa, Yvonne, and Sarah) and local singers and musicians Kevin Branigan and Garret Brady.

At 12.30pm on Saturday, local historian, Noel Bailey will give an historical talk on the Tholsel and other historical buildings in Drogheda. The talk will be held in the Tholsel Building in West Street.

On Saturday 4.30pm in the unique location of the Martello Tower at Millmount will be Trad in the Tower. This will be an intimate concert with Limerick sisters and multi-instrumentalists, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy with local musicians Síofra Devine.

The Traditional Singing Concert this year is being hosted by The Morning Star, which is one of the oldest pubs in Co. Louth. It will commence at 7.30pm with tickets available on the door. Anticipate an intimate concert featuring some Ireland’s highly regarded traditional singers including Sean Faulkner, Gilly Cullen, Joe Gallagher and Derek Williamson.

Sunday afternoon at 2pm will see the exclusive launch of Gerry O’Connor’s new album Last Night’s Fun taking place in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street. Long known as Gerry ‘Fiddle’ O’Connor, this is one fiddler whose pulse is quickened by the sheer delight in the tunes. As a fourth-generation fiddle player, he knows the value of the shared tune. On this his 2nd solo recording, Gerry draws from a wide range of sources and the album features a veritable who’s who of traditional music.

Later on in the afternoon there will be the Annual Singing Session hosted by Paddy Brannigan. It will start at 4pm in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street. Admission to this event is free.

As part of the weekends events there will be Music Instrument Workshops held on Saturday in Millmount, starting at 11am. The Workshops and Tutors will be for Fiddle: Michelle Mulcahy and for Flute: Louise Mulcahy. Both Workshops are for Intermediate to Advanced Students. The cost per student is €10.

For full details and further information about this years Drogheda Traditional Music Weekend please visit droichead.com or follow on Facebook where you can make bookings online for events. If you have any queries, then please either call +353 (0)41 983 3946 or send an email to [email protected]

Event Details

The 27th Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin will be held in Cúil Aodha & Baile Bhúirne (Coolea & Ballyvourney) in the Múscraí Gaeltacht, starting on the 30th of November and running until the

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Event Details

The 27th Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin will be held in Cúil Aodha & Baile Bhúirne (Coolea & Ballyvourney) in the Múscraí Gaeltacht, starting on the 30th of November and running until the 2nd December. This annual festival is held in memory of the journalist, broadcaster and traditional Irish music singer and songwriter, Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin from Cúil Aodha, who tragically died in a car accident in 1991.

You can look forward to three entertaining days that will be full of music, singing, dancing and fun with Concerts, Music Sessions, Céilí, Workshops, Singing Sessions, Dance and Lectures.

The weekend will commence on Friday night at 8.30pm with the festivals opening in the Áras Éamonn Mac Suibhne Hall in Cúil Aodha.

As part of Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Shúilleabháin there will be a series of Workshops held on Saturday in Coláiste Ghobnatan and Ionad Cultúrtha, starting at 10am and finishing at 12:30pm. The Workshops and Tutors will be for Singing in Irish: Nell Ní Chróinín; Singing in English: Rosie Stewart; Fiddle: Liam O’Connor; Accordion: Diarmuid Ó Meachair; Concertina: Edel Fox; Flute: Hammy Hamilton and Dancing: Mairéad Casey.

The Éigse workshops have always been very well attended, therefore it is advisable to book early in order to avoid disappointment. These Workshops are not suitable for beginners.

Over the Festival Weekend, there will be traditional music sessions occurring in the Pubs throughout Baile Bhúirne. These sessions are marvellous free entertainment which is open for all to attend.

For full details and further information about this years Éigse please visit eigse.ie or follow on Facebook or Twitter. If you have any queries, then please either call Cormac Ó hAodha on +353 (0)85 781 2115 or send an email to [email protected]

Event Details

This year will see the 5th Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair taking place in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht. It will run from the 27th December 2018 until the 1st January

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Event Details

This year will see the 5th Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair taking place in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht. It will run from the 27th December 2018 until the 1st January 2019. This traditional winter school programme boasts a wide range of events, including traditional Irish music instrumental, song and dancing workshops; lectures; films; music recitals; kids’ events. There will also be concerts/performances by Altan & special guests, Na Casaidigh, Matt Molloy with John Carty, Arty McGlynn & Brian McGrath, Noel Hill, Liam O’Connor, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill & Helen Diamond, Pólca 4 & The Conifers, An Crann Óg and Peter & Jimmy Campbell.

The Music Classes/Workshops which are the heart of Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair are open to all ages. Admission to these classes and workshops is by 4-DAY REGISTRATION ONLY. It is not possible to register for these on a daily basis.

The classes & workshops will run from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th December each day from 10am to 1pm. For the music classes, it needs to be noted that there are no ‘absolute’ beginner classes available in any instruments and also there are minimum abilities required to attend.

All events will take place in the parish of Gaoth Dobhair, and will be held in six principal venues: Amharclann Ghaoith Dobhair & Teach Jack, Na Doirí Beaga; Teach Hiúdaí Beag, An Bun Beag; Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Na Doirí Beaga; An Gailearaí, Údarás Business Park, Gaoth Dobhair, and Club CLG, Gaoth Dobhair.

Booking details for the Workshops/Classes and the Concerts, and also further information about this years Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair, please visit scoilgheimhridh.com or follow on Facebook or Twitter. If you have any queries, then please either call +353 (0)74 956 0679 or send an email to [email protected].